Description
Fleet Foxes – A Very Lonely Solstice – Vinyl Record
Fleet Foxes’ music incorporates rich harmonies, lush instrumentation, and introspective lyrics that resonate with fans of indie folk and alternative music. Fleet Foxes is known for their distinctive indie folk sound and has released albums such as ‘Fleet Foxes,’ ‘Helplessness Blues,’ and ‘Crack-Up.’
Released on December 10, 2021, A Very Lonely Solstice is a live acoustic album by Fleet Foxes, recorded during the winter solstice of 2020. It features frontman Robin Pecknold performing a solo set at St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn, New York. The performance was originally livestreamed during the COVID-19 pandemic and later released as an official album. Stripped down to just Pecknold’s voice and acoustic guitar, the album offers a deeply intimate, reflective, and atmospheric experience, capturing the feelings of isolation and contemplation that many experienced during the pandemic.
Unlike Fleet Foxes’ lush, harmony-rich studio recordings, A Very Lonely Solstice is a stark, unembellished performance, highlighting Pecknold’s intricate guitar playing and emotive vocals. The setting—a quiet, candle-lit church in the middle of winter—adds to the album’s meditative, almost sacred quality. The setlist features acoustic versions of songs from across Fleet Foxes’ discography, as well as a few covers, all chosen to fit the mood of solitude and reflection.
Notable Tracks
“Wading in Waist-High Water” – The opening track from Shore (2020), performed with haunting simplicity.
“Sunblind” – A stripped-down version of the Shore highlight, paying tribute to late musicians like Elliott Smith and David Berman.
“A Long Way Past the Past” – Another Shore track that takes on a more fragile, introspective tone in this solo performance.
“Tiger Mountain Peasant Song” – A beloved track from their 2008 debut, sounding even more poignant in this acoustic setting.
“If You Need To, Keep Time on Me” – A hushed, emotionally raw rendition of the Crack-Up (2017) ballad.
“Silver Dagger” – A traditional folk song, originally popularized by Joan Baez, given a delicate and mournful interpretation.
Critics and fans praised A Very Lonely Solstice for its intimacy and emotional weight, with many noting how it captured the stillness and solitude of winter and the reflective mood of the pandemic era. While it lacks the lush harmonies and expansive arrangements typical of Fleet Foxes’ albums, its minimalism enhances the emotional impact of the songs. The album serves as both a companion piece to Shore and a standalone meditation on loneliness, resilience, and beauty in solitude.
If you’re a fan of stripped-down folk performances, meditative acoustic music, or winter-themed albums, A Very Lonely Solstice is a must-listen.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Wading In Waist-High Water
Sunblind
In The Morning
Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
Maestranza
Helplessness Blues
Silver Dagger
Featherweight
A Long Way Past The Past
Blue Spotted Tail
If You Need To, Keep Time On Me
I’m Not My Season
Can I Believe You
